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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the special occasion of the day?

2. What does Mrs. Lawrence decide to do?

3. Why does he think the way he does about having sex with Alexandra?

4. What does Jordan's family eventually learn?

5. What does Alexandra think of Hawthorne?

Short Essay Questions

1. What conversation do Mrs. Lawrence and her daughter have about Will Helmsley?

2. What happens nine years later that makes Jordan decide to stop having sexual relations with married women?

3. What does Jordan tells Alexandra he likes about her and what is her reply?

4. What does Mrs. Lawrence say in reply to Jordan's assertion that he is an honorable man?

5. Briefly describe the discussion about caterpillars that Alexandra and her grandfather have.

6. Who interrupts Jordan's conversation with his grandmother and what do they want?

7. How does Alexandra reveal her innocence and naivete at the inn the first night that the newly wedded couple stop?

8. What does Alexandra bemoan as she is riding in the carriage?

9. How does Jordan respond after the bandits are no longer a threat?

10. Who is the Dowager Duchess of Hawthorne and how does she react to Jodan's tale from the night before?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The topic of marriage is woven throughout Something Wonderful. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the following attitudes toward marriage that the following characters seem to take: Alexandra (both at the beginning of the novel and at the end); Jordan (both at the beginning of the novel and at the end), Lady Catherine Harrington, Jordan's mother, Mrs. Lawrence and The Dowager Duchess.

2. How do you think the characters listed above would view marriage if they had similar personalities but lived in the 21st century United States?

3. If you were someone who knew nothing of England and her social customs of the time and took a couple years to observe its people, what would you say about the institution of marriage in England at the time (early 1800s)?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Something Wonderful based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Something Wonderful is a successful novel.

3. Is Something Wonderful a novel you would recommend to a friend? Why or why not? Explain.

4. Can a novel be successful and yet many readers not enjoy it? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss the character of Alexandra. What are her strengths? Weaknesses? How does she evolve over the course of the story? Is she likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Do you think she is a protagonist or antagonist? Why

2. Thoroughly discuss the character Jordan. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? How does he evolve over the course of the story? (or does he?) Is he likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Is he trustworthy? Wise? Would you want him as a friend? As an enemy?

3. Thoroughly discuss two other characters of your choosing. What are their strengths? Weaknesses? How do they evolve over the course of the story? (or do they?) Are they likable at the beginning of the story? At the end of the book? Are they trustworthy? Wise? Would you want them as friends? Are they likely to be enemies?

(see the answer keys)

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